NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: Done for the Earth II takeover of Armenia, but it won't be EII-only as I'm doing this with my main NS territory as well. If you want in on this, TG me.

IC:

"David," said Otar Nemsadze as the two were playing FIFA 2007, "do you ever wonder what else we can do with our lives?"
"I don't know Otar," said David Nasidze as he took Georgian national hero Shota Arveladze on a nice run to score a goal for AZ Alkmaar. "I'm quite comfortable right here."
"Yeah, but all we do is play video games. It's pretty sweet that your dad's a bigwig over at EA Sports, but at some point we've got to do something with our lives."
"You're right," said David, who acted as if a light had turned on in his head. His flash of insight made him momentarily forget the game, allowing Otar's Wilsa Krakow to score the equaliser. "Playing video games is a lot of fun, but we can't be doing this the rest of our lives."

David and Otar had lived similar lives. Lifelong friends, both were recent History graduates from the University of Tblisi, but in the two months since their graduation, finding work had proven difficult. Teaching didn't inspire them, and a lot of jobs required them to be up in a morning the two party animals never wanted to see. Like most Georgians, they were quite friendly, open and hospitable and didn't like anyone who wasn't as friendly as they were. Still, as the days wore on the money started to get tight, and both were starting to think that they really needed to do something with their lives to correct their current situation. The problem, they both knew, was what. After they finished their game- which Otar won 2-1- they went for a walk along Dmanisi's quiet streets. The town, about an hour's drive from Tblisi, was well known for its archeological site- it has the oldest human remains found in Eurasia- but was also known for its remoteness. The sleepy town boasted a population of just 4,800, a far cry from Tblisi's bustling one million strong population.

Then, as they were walking, it- literally- hit them.

As they were walking, they bumped into an Armenian who didn’t bother to look where he was going. The Armenian apologized, after which both parties resumed what they were doing, but Otar and David realized that something bigger was at stake in that chance meeting. Dmanisi was about an hour’s walk from the Armenian border- approximately five miles- and thus has a significant expatriate Armenian population, mostly illegal immigrants looking for work. The problem has affected both Armenia and Georgia equally and has been a point of contention for both governments. Most of the illegal workers sought just to pass through either country on the way to Europe or Russia for work, but many went to either country to do the jobs neither country’s citizens wanted to do, such as working in Georgia’s fields as cultivators or in Armenia as heavy lifters in that country’s factories. The populaces of both nations generally got along, but the governments of each- looking to repair fragile economies- hoped to keep their economies within their local citizenry. Both sets of citizens believed the two countries would work well together if only their governments could be as inviting as the people were, since both shared a common goal to strengthen their respective countries and escape their Russian past. Otar and David had long discussed the possibility of uniting the two countries under one banner, but until they bumped into that Armenian, they never seriously entertained the idea. Otar then hollered at the Armenian they had just bumped into.

“Hey,” he shouted at the Armenian, who then turned around. “What’s your name?”
“Armen, Armen Gorky.”
“I’m Otar and this is my friend David. We live in this town.”
“Really? What do you do?”
“Well…we just graduated from the University of Tblisi with history degrees but we’re still trying to figure out the rest of our lives. It’s been tough.”
“I can imagine. It’s been difficult on me too. Armenia has no jobs, so I come here regularly for work. I’ve been working odd jobs for a while, but I really want to make something of my life too.”
“We’ve got a lot in common for someone we just met.”
“Yeah.”
“Armen,” chimed in David, “Otar and I have long thought that since Georgia and Armenia have so much in common that our two countries should unite. What do you think?”
“How can we do it?” asked Armen. “We’re just three people.”
“C’mon. We’re all resourceful people. We can figure it out.”
“It’s a mighty big project, but okay.”
“We even have a name for it- ‘The Empire of Friends.’ What do you think?”
“ ‘Empire of Friends’. I like it. Very inviting and fitting for yours and our peoples. Let’s do it!”
“Good.”
The two parties exchanged contact information and set off on their dream to unite Georgia and Armenia in an empire of friendship. No longer would the Georgians and Armenians live in government-appointed isolation from each other- they would become friends, and friends for good. An ambitious project, surely, but one both countries needed. This would be an empire like no other.

The project began as a simple political advocacy group. Otar didn’t want to give the political authorities any reason to question what they were doing and felt they would win a lot more support if their efforts could be considered peaceful. Besides, they were merely three men who knew only how to play video games- leading an armed insurrection would be a nightmare.

Still, the political climate began to worsen in Armenia. The president of the landlocked republic was shot during a parade, and later in the week someone stormed the Armenian Legislature and shot every member. Political anarchy gripped the country and while most of the protests calling for leadership remained peaceful, riots would erupt in the streets of Yerevan from time to time. As the weeks passed, the violence worsened, meaning fears began to mount that civil war would grip the country and wreck their fragile infrastructure. In the turmoil, the “Empire of Friends”- which had now expanded to 100 people, mostly from the friends of David, Otar and Armen- saw an opportunity that would rankle the world. They decided that now would be a perfect opportunity to put their idea of uniting Georgia and Armenia to action by installing themselves as the government in Armenia. None of them had any political experience beyond their video games, but they figured they were better than no candidates at all.

Early in the day, the trio shot a video that officially announced themselves as the government in Armenia. In the video, they talked about the new opportunity that would present itself in Armenia, united as friends with the Republic of Georgia. Gone, they said, would be years of political antagonism by the two governments who would learn how to share their resources and enhance each others’ industries and states. Most importantly, though, was a pledge to pitch Georgia and Armenia as the world’s “bastion of peace”, a nation that would seek to make friends instead of enemies. “We are the Empire of Friends, and together we will make the world a calmer, nicer and more prosperous place.”

The tape was sent to a Yerevan television station and broadcast all over Armenia at the 6 o’clock news. Reactions across Armenia were initially mixed- some scoffed at the suggestion some 25-year-old slackers could adequately run the country, while others felt that the Empire of Friends were better than no government at all. By week’s end, their organization received near unanimous support across Armenia, especially considering that the organization allowed local Armenians the option for applying for ministerial positions. Things were going well for the organization, who looked like they’d be able to return Armenia to their prosperous state after all.

One day, the organization received a call from an unlikely source- it was Roman Emperor Valerius IV Maderia. He had caught wind of the organization’s exploits and decided to tell them that the Romans emphatically supported their project. Rome became their first ally, and an important one at that, considering that Rome was one of the world’s leading superpowers. Valerius informed them that in the coming week he’d meet with the Empire to more formally establish relations. Things were moving up for the group in Armenia, but in Georgia, rumblings were beginning where that country’s government would mount an invasion of their own. An alliance that was once a nicety soon became a necessity- a very important one at that.

“So, remind me again who these guys are?” asked Valerius in preparation of meeting with the Empire.
“Otar Nemsadze, David Nasidze and Armen Gorky,” said Q. Marcus Quintus, one of his officials. “Otar and David are from Dmanisi in southern Georgia, while Armen is from Yerevan in Armenia.”
“What is their profession?”
“From what we understand, all three are unemployed. Armen worked a few contract jobs that have since expired, while Otar has been out of work for six months and David for four years. All have University degrees in History.”
“So they’re slackers?”
“Yes, but they at least have degrees.”
“So they’re smart slackers; and remind me why they’ve formed their new organization?”
“To give Georgia and Armenia a united government sir.”
“…and the people bought that?”
“The people of Armenia have nothing. Their entire legislature was shot last week, including the President. The Empire was the only group willing to step up to lead Armenia, so the people accepted it.”
“I never thought of Armenia as a desperate country. Didn’t Rome once rule it?”
“Yes we did.”
“So why don’t we rule it again?”
“…but sir, they have a legitimate government.”
“Right; but we’re propping it up. They’re nothing without us. Besides, I think they’re entertaining.”
“Entertaining, sir?”
“It’s not every day a bunch of slackers form a government.”
“You’re right; but sir, we can’t look like we’re going to take them over.”
“Who said anything about taking them over?”
“You did.”
“No, I posited about why we don’t rule it ourselves then you reminded me that the Empire is a legitimate government.”
“You’ve completely lost me sir.”
“One day, you’ll understand me. Trust me.”

A few minutes later, Valerius’ limosuine pulled into the Empire’s headquarters in Yerevan. Their office was really Gorky’s apartment, but that was something Valerius was willing to overlook. Besides, he had the Praetorian Guard should anything go fluey.

“Hello. I’m sure I need no introduction. Please, gentlemen, introduce yourselves,” said the Caesar.
They each introduced themselves to Valerius.
“Thank you. You know, I’ve heard a lot about you. I hear you’ve all been unemployed for a while before you took on the responsibility of assuming the Armenian leadership?”
“Yes we were,” said Otar. “Especially David- he could find nothing during his time at University. They don’t seem to like students.”
Valerius smirked. “Oh, how I remember those days.” They all had a laugh. “You know, I was pretty ambitious as a kid, but this really tops everything. How does a bunch of slackers just decide to take over a country and then do it?”
David blushed. “It was just something stupid that we did.”
“Something stupid? I don’t think taking over a country is something stupid David.” Valerius allowed that to sink in before he moved on. “Ruling a country takes a lot of hard work and dedication. You can’t just ‘take over’- you’ve got to rule it. Have you an army? A cabinent? Ministers? Staff?”
The three of them became hesitant as the proceedings wore on. “Well, we’ve got 100 people signed up for our organizations, and we’re accepting résumés-”
“Hold it, hold it, hold it- résumés?”
“Yes, résumés. It’s our way of making sure we hire the best possible people for the job.”
“So, how’s that coming along?”
Silence befell the room.
“I see.” Valerius then gave his aides a look of, this could take a while. “Well, that’s why I’m here.”
“Why?”
“I want to join the Empire of Friends. We’re all friends, right?” Valerius’ aides turned to each other in bemusement. They certainly didn’t like the thought of Valerius willingly submit the Roman Empire to the rule of a bunch of slackers. “It will just be myself. The Roman Empire will officially be an ally of the EF- I’m sorry, this organization needs an abbreviation so I don’t confuse myself- and will help you build Armenia from the ground up.”
The three of them were flabbergasted. The Emperor of the Romans? Being a member? That would be the icing on the cake. “We’ll take the deal!” said an emphatic Armen without conferring with his friends.
“Good. We will keep close in touch.” The men all shook hands and Valerius left with his aides. Later, the EF talked about the arrangement.
“This is pretty cool,” said David. “The Emperor of the Romans wants to be part of us! This is sweet.”
“Yeah. This is pretty cool,” said Armen.
“I have my doubts. Sounds like Valerius is trying to take us over from within,” said Otar.
“Nonsense. You heard him today- Rome would be our ally,” said Armen.
“Doesn’t it sound a little fishy that he’s signing up so quickly?” asked Otar.
“C’mon Otar. It’s not like we know what we’re doing,” said David.
“Yeah, but I’m not going to sacrifice everything I’ve worked hard for just because we need help. We’ll learn on the way,” said Otar.
“Can’t we see what the Romans will do for us first? I mean, it’s not like we’ve got anything to lose. If the Romans really are taking over us, they’re going to do it whether we let them or not,” said Armen.
Otar sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s give it a shot- and let’s have a drink.”
They all heartily agreed on that.

Valerius was a man of his words, but he was also a man of principle. He knew that on their own, the EF didn’t stand a chance, and if he could twist their organization into one beneficial to Rome’s interests, he would do it. He saw them as the gateway to the lucrative Armenian market, complete with all its minerals and manufacturing potential, as well as Georgia’s lush farmland and resources.

For now, though, he was willing to play along with his EF friends. He appeared on Roman, Georgian and Armenian national television proudly displaying his EF membership card and didn’t shy away from photo opportunities with the group’s founders. He was even seen partying with the group at its various functions in an effort to paint the group as a fun-loving but non-threatening organization. If they could pass off as hippies, he thought, it would make a Roman takeover that much easier, because then he could paint the Romans as providing Georgia and Armenia with some order.

However, he didn’t want to backstab the EF- after all, they were quite an inspirational group as a bunch of slackers who undertook a harebrained operation and made it work. They weren’t yet making any money off their endeavours but it was the thought that counts, and besides, once Armenia was properly incorporated into the Roman sphere of influence it could properly create the institutions needed to run a state. Here, Valerius posited, the Romans would be seen as the ones who would rebuild Armenia, with the EF becoming the client leaders of a Roman satellite.

The Georgian government, however, saw Valerius as trouble and realized now was the time to act. They didn’t want the Romans to step in on their territory and felt that with so much common history between the two, Armenia rightfully belonged to them. It didn’t much matter to the Georgian government that it was Rome who propped them up- they were determined to make a stand and teach Rome and the EF a lesson in how to run a state. How they would accomplish it they didn’t know, but they were determined to try. George Ervadze, the Georgian Consul, met with his army General, Shota Armizde, to draw up an invasion plan for Armenia. He wanted to test the Romans’ ability to help the EF and to see if they really were serious about rebuilding the country. With some luck, they might be able to take over the country and paint the Romans as invaders. Ervadze didn’t know or care about Valerius’ temperament or ambitions, and if he could show himself as standing up to one of the world’s greatest superpowers, he’d do it. The problem for him is that Valerius was looking for a fight- and was prepared to do so.